ICYMI: Wall to Wall Coverage Highlighting the Trump Administration’s Agreement with Mexico for 100% Solution to Decades-Long Tijuana River Sewage Crisis
WASHINGTON — Last week, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Secretary of the Environment and National Resources of Mexico Alicia Bárcena Ibarra to address and solve the decades-long Tijuana River sewage crisis. For many years, untreated raw sewage has flowed into Southern California from Mexico and polluted the Tijuana River Valley, causing beaches to close and quality of life to decline for Americans. This agreement achieves the three top Trump Administration priorities and milestones critical to ensuring a 100% solution to this issue:
- Mexico will obligate the remaining $93 million of Minute 328 funds that they hadn’t yet obligated.
- The timeline for completion of the remaining Minute 328 projects have been reduced.
- Several necessary Mexico side projects have been added to account for future population growth in Tijuana and operation and maintenance costs.
Read coverage below on the major breakthrough on the Tijuana River Sewage Crisis.
San Diego Union Tribune: EPA Director Announces Permanent 100% Solution on Tijuana River Sewage Crisis
“Lee Zeldin, director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, announced Thursday that the Trump administration has brokered a ‘100% permanent solution’ to the Tijuana River sewage crisis. A memorandum of understanding signed by representatives of the United States and Mexico calls for increases in funding, reduced construction timelines, and adjustments to the scope of existing projects ‘to account for future population growth in Tijuana.”
Courthouse News Service: U.S., Mexico Ink Deal to Fix Tijuana River Sewage Problem
“The United States and Mexico on Thursday forged an agreement officials say will solve a sewage crisis in the Tijuana River that’s lasted for decades. The agreement is inked in a memorandum of understanding signed by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin and Secretary of the Environment and National Resources of Mexico, Alicia Bárcena Ibarra. It details how millions of dollars will get spent, shortens existing project timelines and accounts for future Tijuana population growth, along with operation and maintenance costs.”
Fox News: US-Mexico Tijuana River Sewage Crisis Deal Is ‘Massive’ Win for Americans, EPA Says
“A new deal between the United States and Mexico aimed at resolving the Tijuana River sewage crisis is ‘massive’ win for Americans living in the San Diego area, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced this week... ‘The Trump Administration is proud to deliver this massive environmental and national security win for Americans in the San Diego area who have been living with this disgusting raw sewage flowing into their communities for far too long,’ Zeldin said in a statement.”
Daily Caller: Trump Admin Cuts Deal with Mexico to Halt Disgusting Sewage Pollution in California
“...EPA Administrator Zeldin has made tackling the Tijuana River sewage crisis a priority, noting that waste from Mexico has contaminated the San Diego area for decades. Zeldin told reporters Thursday that the new MOU will bring about a ‘100% solution’ to the situation through a three-pronged strategy that includes investment from Mexico, expedited infrastructure projects and a new resources agreement.”
The New York Times: U.S. and Mexico Sign Deal to Stop Sewage Release Into Tijuana River
“Every day, millions of gallons of sewage flow into the Tijuana River starting in Mexico and ending in California, where the polluted water is dumped in the ocean. The sewage frequently overwhelms wastewater treatment plants in both countries. The problem has worsened in recent years as Tijuana’s population has grown, treatment plants in both countries have fallen into disrepair, and climate change has fueled increasingly strong storms... The agreement comes three months after Mr. Zeldin visited San Diego to begin negotiations with Mexico. It drew praise from local officials, including from Democrats...”
NBC 7 (San Diego): U.S. and Mexico Reach Agreement to Fix Raw Sewage Crisis in Tijuana
“Mexico and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding Thursday aimed at fixing the sewage crisis along the border in San Diego County... ‘Smelled for myself that foul smell that so many residents of Southern California have been complaining about for so long,’ Zeldin recalled from his April inspection of the Tijuana River Valley. At that time, the EPA Administrator appointed by President Donald Trump demanded a list of fixes with Mexico to solve the problem for good. They got the list Thursday.”
ABC 10 (San Diego): US and Mexico Sign Agreement to Address Tijuana River Sewage Crisis
“After decades of dealing with the stink from the Tijuana River sewage crisis, South Bay residents could soon get some much-needed relief. The U.S. and Mexico signed an agreement Thursday to address the problem that has plagued the region for years. The agreement comes three months after EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin visited the border to see the issue firsthand.”
Coronado Times: US and Mexico Reach New Agreement in Tijuana Sewage Crisis
“There are times when announcements get made and there’s no substance,’ said U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin moments before signing the memorandum of understanding. ‘But here we are today with great pride to be able to stand before the people of Mexico and the United States who care so much about this issue to be able to finally tell you about all the details of us finally delivering this urgent, long-overdue, permanent, 100 percent solution to tackle this sewage crisis once and for all.’”
Associated Press: US and Mexico Sign Accord to Combat Tijuana River Sewage Flowing Across the Border
“The United States and Mexico have signed an agreement outlining specific steps and a new timetable to clean up the longstanding problem of the Tijuana River pouring sewage across the border and polluting California beaches, officials from both countries announced Thursday. Billions of gallons of sewage and toxic chemicals from Tijuana have polluted the Pacific Ocean off neighboring Southern California, closing beaches and sickening Navy SEALs who train in the water.”
The Center Square: U.S., Mexico Sign Pact to Solve Tijuana River Sewage Crisis
“The United States signed a memorandum of understanding Thursday with Mexico, launching a permanent solution to end the Tijuana River sewage crisis. Upon arriving in Mexico City on Thursday morning, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin met with Mexican officials to discuss what Zeldin called a 100% solution to end the crisis. The Mexican government supported the solution and signed a detailed MOU with the U.S.”
Breitbart: Trump’s EPA Secures ‘Win’ with Mexico to Solve Tijuana River Sewage Crisis
“The Trump administration has secured an agreement with Mexico to ensure a solution to the decades-long Tijuana River sewage crisis, with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin calling it a ‘massive environmental and national security win.’ Zeldin met with his Mexican counterpart, Alicia Bárcena, in Mexico City on Thursday to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the countries to stop the flow of raw, untreated sewage polluting southern California.”
Reuters: US, Mexico Reach Agreement on Reducing Sewage Flows Across Border and Into San Diego
“U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zelin and Mexican Environment Minister Alicia Barcena signed a memorandum of understanding in Mexico City, in which Mexico agreed to expedite the expenditure of $93 million worth of improvements to the Tijuana sewage system and commit to several projects to account for future population growth and maintenance. ‘This is a huge win for millions of Americans and Mexicans who have been calling on us to end this decades-old crisis,’ said Zeldin in a statement.”
The Hill: US Signs MOU with Mexico on Tijuana River Sewage Crisis
“The U.S. and Mexico on Thursday took collaborative steps toward curbing a long-standing, cross-border environmental crisis: the unfettered sewage flow from Tijuana into Southern California. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin and his Mexican counterpart Alicia Bárcena Ibarra signed a memorandum of understanding that addressed the ‘environmental, public health and national security consequences’ of transboundary wastewater contamination.”
Times of San Diego: U.S., Mexico Agree to Speed Up Projects that Ease Sewage Flows in Tijuana River
“The U.S. and Mexico on Thursday signed an agreement to address the harmful flow of sewage into the Tijuana River and across the border. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin met with Mexico’s Secretary of the Environment and National Resources Alicia Bárcena Ibarra to sign a pact that requires the nations to expedite stormwater and sewage projects on both sides of the border.”
CBS 8 San Diego: US, Mexico Strike Deal to Tackle Tijuana Sewage Crisis
“The Trump Administration is proud to deliver this massive environmental and national security win for Americans in the San Diego area who have been living with this disgusting raw sewage flowing into their communities for far too long,’ Zeldin said. The EPA Administrator visited San Diego in April to receive an update on the trans-border sewage problem and see it in person. ‘I made a commitment to the residents that I would spearhead an effort to construct an all-encompassing plan to finally bring the sewage crisis to an end,’ he said.”
Los Angeles Times: Trump EPA Commits to ‘100% Cleanup’ of Chronically Polluted Tijuana River in MOU With Mexico
“Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin committed the Trump administration to ‘a permanent, 100% solution to the decades-old Tijuana River sewage crisis’ in a new agreement signed with Mexico on Thursday... President Trump was highly motivated after hearing from Navy Seals who must train in the polluted waters of the Pacific Ocean where the Tijuana River meets the sea.”